Faculty Frequently Asked Questions
How can I become involved in my Minerva?
Faculty can involve themselves in their Minerva House in a number of ways, from attending events to hosting their own programs in the house. Your participation in the house can be connected to your academic discipline or to your interests and hobbies. We encourage you to take advantage of this opportunity to connect with students outside of the classroom and would like to help you do this in ways that you are most comfortable, whether that be by stopping by the house for lunch, hosting a review session for a study group, or showing a movie. Below are a couple of easy ways for you to become involved:
- Marketplace of Ideas: You can use this website to both post your interests and look for others who have certain interests. The site notifies you to events that match your interests and helps you connect with others. If you notice something or someone that would create a great event, just contact your House Council about making that event happen.
- Event Submission Webpage: Your House now has a link to a web event submission page. This page allows you to easily submit a program idea to your House Council. The council will check these submissions and respond to you within a couple of weeks. If your event is approved, they will help you with planning, reserving your Minerva, and purchasing products (if requested and approved). You can link to this page from your individual House webpage.
- Master Minerva Calendar: This calendar shows you all Minerva events; your House website also has a link to events happening in just your House. By checking this calendar you can see if there are any events taking place in the Minerva Houses that might interest you. Feel free to stop by any that are listed!
- Contact Us: If you?re still not sure how to plan an activity, get a group together, reserve a room, etc., feel free to contact your House Council or the Minerva Programs Office. All House Council officers are listed on the House webpages or you can contact Tom McEvoy, the Director of Minerva Programs and Associate Dean of Students at mcevoyt@union.edu or x8790.
I want to sponsor an event in my Minerva. What steps should I take?
Applying to have an event approved by your Minerva House has never been easier. Every House webpage now has a link to the Event Submission Webpage. This page allows you to request sponsorship of an event, a room, and/or funds for an event. Once the form is completed, the House Council will review the submission and be in touch with you within 2 weeks. If your event is approved, you will receive further instruction on how to purchase items (if funds are approved), as well as a House Council contact to help answer any questions you may have.
Once you have received approval, you can then proceed with planning your event. While the House Council approves the events, they do not plan them for you. Therefore, it is up to you to advertise the event and purchase any necessary and approved items (instructions on how to purchase items will be sent from your House Council or you can contact the Minerva Programs Office at x8752). If you need help with any of these steps, your House Council or the Minerva Programs Office can assist you.
Who is the Faculty Representative for my Minerva House?
- Beuth House – Melinda Goldner, Assistant Professor of Sociology
- Blue House – Shelton Schmidt , Professor of Economics
- Golub House – Bonney MacDonald, Associate Professor of English
- Green House – Seyffie Maleki, Associate Professor of Physics and Astronomy
- Breazzano House –Chad Orzel, Assistant Professor of Physics
- Sorum House – Suzie Benack , Professor of Psychology
- Wold House – Anu Jain , Assistant Professor of English
If I have other questions or concerns, who should I contact?
Your Faculty Representative is usually a good place to start. However, if you cannot reach them or if you need further assistance, feel free to contact Michelle Pawlowski, the Minerva Programs Administrative Assistant at pawlowsm@union.edu.